Antinori 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, Badia a Passignano

The most prestigious designation in Chianti Classico is Gran Selezione. This wine is a single vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva that Antinori produces from the vineyard of the same name on their estate property. It's a unique wine with a distinct terroir that shows through vintage after vintage and they have been producing it for many years. It was aged 12 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels. This is the only wine in the Antinori portfolio that bears the Gran Selezione designation. It's also the only wine they make that is 100% Sangiovese.

James Suckling scored this 95 points saying "A linear, nervy red with black-cherry, milk-chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a racy finish. Drink or hold."

The Wine Advocate scored this 93 points saying "The Marchesi Antinori 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano reveals the soft and generous side of this vintage with ripe aromas of blackberry, plum, spice, sweet tobacco and campfire ash. The wine is giving and rich to all the senses and it ends with softly integrated tannins and a fleshy, fruit-forward style. Serve it with a platter of real Tuscan rosemary schiacciata with slices of culatello."

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 92 points saying "Aromas of camphor, cassis, scorched earth and violet form the nose of this medium-bodied red. Made with Sangiovese, the smooth palate offers dried Marasca cherry, coconut, vanilla and thyme alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2025."